T-Birds hope roster develops quickly

KINGDOM CITY — For North Callaway Thunderbirds head football coach Mike Emmons, there is never a concession to what lies beyond.

Entering the kickoff to the 2011 season at home against Eldon tonight (kickoff at 7), North Callaway’s roster is sparsely populated with just eight seniors. Coming off a 6-5 record in 2010 and a return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2004, the Thunderbirds will be relying on a sizeable mix of juniors and some sophomores with minimal or no varsity experience.

“No matter how you practice, how you simulate, we’re just going to have to see how it goes when we get out there,” Emmons said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re going to ask for leadership out of the juniors, as well as the seniors.